It’s all in the family for Silver Knights’ DiSarcina

By TOM KING

Staff Writer

Growing up in a baseball family has got to be pure heaven for a ballplayer.

Just ask Nashua Silver Knights outfielder Cam DiSarcina, the son of former White Sox minor leaguer Glenn DiSarcina and nephew of current Los Angeles Angels third base coach and former Red Sox minor league manager Gary DiSarcina. ...
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Growing up in a baseball family has got to be pure heaven for a ballplayer.

Just ask Nashua Silver Knights outfielder Cam DiSarcina, the son of former White Sox minor leaguer Glenn DiSarcina and nephew of current Los Angeles Angels third base coach and former Red Sox minor league manager Gary DiSarcina.

DiSarcina says he feels no pressure carrying the family name onto the field. His father was an infielder in the White Sox chain, hitting a career .272 and is now the head baseball coach at the Groton School, which Cam attended. His uncle, of course, was a longtime Angels shortstop, a veteran of 1,086 major league games, veteran minor league manager (Lowell and Pawtucket) and now an Angels coach.

“It’s a blessing,” said Cam, who hit .299 with nine doubles, three triples and 34 RBIs in 37 games while playing the outfield at Merrimack College this past spring. “If I have success or do bad, people will always know my dad and them and know I have it in my blood. It’s kind of a respect thing. Is he going to have what they have? It’s good in all ends, I don’t have any complaints.”

No complaints, just great memories of family baseball outings and get-togethers.

“It’s awesome,” Cam said. “Sometimes holidays and get-togethers would just turn into baseball talk. Just as a kid growing up, hearing my grandpa (Geno DiSarcina), their dad, those two talking about baseball. Their other brother was a good player in high school, too. Just hearing all of them talk about different calls, teams, what things can happen.

“It’s awesome. It’s one of the best experiences I’ve had, just growing up in this kind of family, just truly loving the game for myself. And then I get to appreciate all the accomplishments they’ve done.”

DiSarcina, when he got old enough to play and appreciate the game, would always take part in his father and uncle’s baseball camp in Billerica, Mass. “I started to learn some stuff from them, hitting and fielding, both of them kind of taught me the basics,” he said. “It was awesome having that kind of knowledge, kind of inside the family, you know?”

DiSarcina, going into the regular season final couple of games, was hitting .277 with two doubles and 12 RBIs in 36 games. He’s become more of a regular now than he was a month ago.

“He works really hard, he knows the game, and it’s obvious he’s grown up in a baseball family,” Currle said. “And he’s got some talent. He’s quietly gone about his business. He didn’t play a lot early but he’s gotten some more opportunities and he’s had some big hits for us. He deserves the opportunities he’s got.”

DiSarcina, like his father and uncle, was a middle infielder in high school but those positions, even third base, were occupied at Merrimack so he played the outfield. His versatility helped.

“I was hitting well, they asked me to try the outfield so I went out there and did as well as I could,” he said. “Anything to get in the lineup, you know? So that’s what they want me to do here. I’m not going to complain as long as I’m playing. I think next year I’ll have a shot at the infield at Merrimack.”

DiSarcina, who lives in Shirley, Mass., has loved his Silver Knights experience, especially playing at Holman Stadium.

“This is amazing,” he said. “People coming to the stadium, paying to watch us play, it’s a whole new thing. It’s almost like a minor league team. Amazing stadium, amazing people, it’s been a great experience.”

He went to LeLacheur Park in Lowell to see his uncle manage the Spinners a few years ago. “This is almost like being a Spinner,” he said with a grin.